With the Philippines´ 7,641 islands, Cebu is one of the most famous. So here I share to you the cheapest way to spend your vacation in the Queen City of the South, Cebu!
Book your flight
Skyscanner is a website (they also have their app) where you can see prices of flight anywhere and anytime. Here is how you can use this website to get the cheapest flights.
Then after deciding the appropriate and cheapest flight for you, go to Traveloka website to get discounts! You can get more discounts by downloading their app and don´t forget to sign up because first time users get their exclusive discounts. Take note that it is only available to some countries.
My rountrip ticket MNL-CEB & CEB-MNL is only 2,100php! You just need to be patient to look for the price from time to time and follow the process. You don´t need promos anymore.
Accommodation
As we arrived in Mactan-Cebu International Airport, we booked in Mactan Cebu Airport Budget Hotel through Booking.com just for 1 night. The room is good for 6 persons and you have to share the bathroom but that won't be a problem because they have a lot of showers that gives you privacy.
Cebu City 1 Day Itinerary
We just planned a 1 day tour around the city of Cebu. It´s just a small city and traveling in Cebu, you should focus on their beaches. You can also research about places to visit in the area and just choose some based on your preference. Here is our itinerary for 1 day tour in Cebu City :
You can also book your tour here Magellan´s Cross
Sirao Garden
Temple of Leah
It has 20 pesos entrance fee. It is a temple for Ellen Adarna´s grandmother.
10, 000 Roses Cafe
For your night tour, I recommend you the 10,000 roses café. It´s a new tourist spot in Cebu city and you can see more of its beauty during night. But better to be there before 6pm because of number of people going there.
Cebu City to South Cebu
The next morning, we went to Cebu South Bus Terminal to take a bus going to Oslob. It cost us 160 php per person. It´s almost a 5 hours ride.We were a little bit late so as we arrive in Oslob, we just went to the nearest beach and took a rest.
South Cebu Journey
We stayed in Casa Solmar in Oslob. I highly recommend you this place! They are too nice to accommodate us and even booked a motorcycle drivers to take us for whaleshark watching. The trip cost us 300 php per head and the drivers already got numbers for us so we didnt have to fall in line for so long. They will help you with everything and they will even suggest you things so you can save money and enjoy at the same time.
Whale Shark Watching
500 php / pax
You need to get a number before you see the whale sharks. So better ask someone to get number for you, ask the natives. There is also a 10 minutes briefing about do´s and don´ts. Then they will give you your gear but I recommend you to bring your own gear. Book here.
Going to other places in South Cebu will cost you thousands of peso per person and per destination. Out hotel stuff helped us to find a place where we can rent motorcycles. It´s just 600 pesos / motorcycle for 24 hours. So don´t forget to bring a friend who can drive for you. Here are some places to visit in South Cebu:
Kawasan Falls
Kawasan falls is way too far from Oslob. It can take you more than an hour to get there. There is an app called Maze than can lead you going there. But be careful because it can also give you a wrong way.
It is 10 minutes walk from the entrance to get in Kawasaki falls. You can rent life vest for only 20 php. There are small stores in the area for your miryenda. Book your tour here.
Sumilon Island
Sumilon Island is way too near from Oslob. It is only open for public until 5 pm. There is a boat that you can rent and it cost us 1,200 php. It´s a little bit expensive because we were just 5 persons in one big boat. I recommend you to get there early in the morning so you can share the fare with other travellers. It is only a 15 minutes ride and you can see a paradise. It has a white sand and clear water.
Osmeña´s Peak
It´s the highest peak in Cebu but unfortunately we could´t drive anymore to get there because it was raining. People from there said that it usually rains during morning so try to go there in the afternoon.
Just Passing By
By passing in the South Cebu, you will see places worth taking pictures
Pasalubong
Don´t forget to bring delicacies of Cebu in your own town. Before going to the airport, pass by in Taboan Supermarket for cheapest and affordable pasalubong such as dried mangoes, danggit, otap, and etc.. You can buy kilos of your dried fish for cheap price.
But always go advance to the airport because you might experience unexpected traffic in the city. And always expect delayed flights!
Total amount of money I spent in Cebu is only 7,000 php including everything.
